Carly’s eyes grew wide, and she looked back at me. “I’ve never had a grandma before.” I smiled.
“It’s up to you, sweet pea. Like I said last night, you get to decide what you call us.”
She nodded and turned back to my mom. “I’d really like a grandma.”
My mom fought her tears and smiled widely. “I would really like a granddaughter.” Carly dove back into her arms.
She pulled back and snagged her hand. “Come look at my room, grandma. Amy gave me all my daddy’s stuff, so I put it allin here.” Carly tugged her across the hall and into her room. My mom followed, laughing.
I turned back to Lynn. “Yes, to answer your question. Carly is the shaman. A shaman that is six years old.”
“Almost seven.” She called from her room.
I laughed. “My mistake. An almost seven-year-old girl who I adopted as her father just passed away.” Lynn stared at me for a minute.
“You have a lot on your plate.” I just nodded. “Too much. I’ll leave.” She pulled away from me and tried to head down the stairs.
“You are too far away from my father’s pack lands to go home.” I omitted the cave portal. “You could go back through the closet, but you would be in the same place as before.” She stopped, and I could see her shaking. “You are not now, nor will you ever be, a burden to me.” She looked at me over her shoulder. “You are my friend, my pack, and I will keep you safe. I'm sorry I failed you while I was away.” I met her eyes with my defiant ones. “I won’t make you stay here if you don’t want to, but I really hope you will. I will help you train. I will help you regain your strength.”
Toya came over next to me, and Wendy stepped out of her room. Toya gestured to her and Wendy. “We will help you.”
Wendy stepped closer. “Please don’t leave. I know we just met, and I know you don’t really feel safe in your own skin. But allow us a chance.”
Lynn looked away. “I would be useless.”
I shook my head. “Not useless.” I stepped closer to her. “Never useless, never a burden.” I raised my hand and cupped her face. “Plus, I have so much to tell you.”
“About what?”
“Everything.” I whispered.
Toya came up behind me. “We had to keep you in the dark because of where you were, but now, now you can learn the truth.”
Her lip trembled. I could see she was almost ready to agree. But she shook her head. “I can’t do that to you.”
Tiny footsteps came behind us again. “You are wounded, warrior. You are lost.” Carly’s voice took on a deeper inflection. Everyone slowly turned to see her white eyes staring back at us. “If you leave, you jeopardize everything, including your life. If he catches you again, and he will look, you will lose everything.” Lynn shuddered.
“No.” She shook her head, and a tear slipped out.
Carly stepped forward. My skin prickled with the magic surrounding her. “You want to run because he made you believe you are not worthy of love, of care, but that is far from the truth.” She raised her hand slowly and gently took Lynn’s. “Let his words fade from your mind. Let the three spirited one in. You will find your peace once again.”
Lynn trembled as she stared down at the little girl in front of her. “Who are you?” The words were whispered but held so much wonder.
“You know what I am, a warrior. But I do not think you know what I do. I am a vessel.” Carly looked up. “A vessel for the future, the present, the past. I see all, and I weigh paths. I am the truth bearer, the pathfinder, I am the Alpha, the Omega, I am the storyteller. I am everything and nothing.” Carly’s voice changed a little and her eyes shifted to darkness. “I am the Goddess’s voice, and her will on earth.”
The room froze. I looked around and everyone, including my mother, had their mouths hanging open. “Well then.” She whispered as she walked over.
We looked back to Carly, who blinked, and once again her bright brown eyes were staring back at us. I crouched down to her level. “Does that happen often?”
“The Goddess?” Her voice was bright once again. She shrugged. “Daddy said she comes when she has a message to deliver.” Carly giggled. “When I have visions, I remember what I see, but when the Goddess comes, I don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because she has to put me asleep so she can speak through me. Daddy said it’s so it doesn’t hurt me. But I don't mind. She is the goddess.” Carly spun around and walked back to my mom. “Thank you for helping me hang my curtains.” Then she skipped off to her room.
I stayed crouched and I looked up at my mom. “I am out of my depth.”
She laughed. “Every parent feels that way some day. You just happened to feel it on the first day.” She kissed me. “Get Lynn situated, then we can go grocery shopping. I assume the groceries are for here?” I nodded. “Okay. We’ll get it all figured out.” She stepped around me to Lynn. “You, my dear, I’m sorry this happened to you. I tried my best to help where I could.”
